Here in Howard County, our Police Department is one of the best in the Nation, and we have a reputation as one of the safest communities in the Nation. The continued success of our Police Department is vital to the wellbeing of our community.

Earlier this month, Chief Lisa Myers announced her retirement as Chief of our Police Department. Today, I'm proud to appoint Gregory J. Der as the next Chief of Police.

I’ve known Gregory for nearly 15 years, and he has stood out as a thoughtful, determined, collaborative leader, who will guide our Police Department into the future. In these challenging times for our police officers, when crimes from human trafficking to online scams are becoming more complex, Greg’s leadership traits and his ability to build strong bonds with the community make him the right person for the job. Der will be first person of Asian descent to lead the Howard County Police Department.

I much look forward to working closely with Chief Der and continue ensuring Howard County is the safest community in our nation for all.

Read more about Chief Der here.

As the weather cools and more of us are gathering indoors, we encourage residents to remain cautious and take preventative measures to mitigate COVID-19. As of 9:00 a.m. today, our 7-day average positivity rate is 2.76% and our 7-day average case rate per 100,000 of our population is 8.95. There are currently 3 COVID-19 patients in both ICU and Acute Care units.

The CDC reported that on November 26, 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified a new variant of COVID-19 and has named it Omicron. Concerns about this virus include whether it is associated with higher transmission and how well vaccines protect against infection. No cases of this variant have been identified in the U.S. to date. CDC is working with other U.S. and global public health and industry partners to understand more about this variant and its impact.

As winter approaches, it’s vital to have a highly vaccinated community. Fully vaccinated adults are now eligible for booster shots. If you are not yet vaccinated, please roll up your sleeve and get your shot. According to the Maryland Department of Health, Howard County continues to be a leader in the state with our COVID-19 vaccination rates – with 96.8% of residents 12 and older receiving at least one dose of a vaccine.

To find a COVID-19 vaccine clinic near you, including those offering booster and children’s shots, visit vaccine.howardcountymd.gov, call 410-313-6284, or contact your medical provider. 

According to the CDC, Howard County currently has substantial transmission of the virus and they recommend that everyone 2 years of age or older who is not fully vaccinated should wear a mask in indoor public places. In general, you do not need to wear a mask in outdoor settings. People who have a condition or are taking medications that weaken their immune system may not be fully protected even if they are fully vaccinated. The CDC recommends that they should continue to take all precautions recommended for the unvaccinated, including wearing a mask. If you are fully vaccinated, to maximize protection from the Delta and other variants and prevent possibly spreading it to others, the CDC suggests that you wear a mask indoors in public.

For more information, please click here.

With Small Business Saturday behind us, I want to remind residents that shopping small is more important than ever. As the holiday season is underway and we’re deciding to purchase gifts for family and friends, I encourage everyone to shop local. When you buy local, about 68% of your money stays in the local economy.

This holiday season and all year long, let’s continue to support our small businesses and keep our dollars in our community. Whether you’re looking for something sweet, healthy, or just want to have a good time with family and friends, our local businesses have something in store for you!

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen a rise of food insecurity for many families across the county. No one should ever have to choose between paying their rent or putting food on the table.

As we give our thanks today, let’s also remember our neighbors who may be struggling in silence. Thank you to Senator Katie Fry Hester and Delegate Lorig Charkoudian for their efforts to eliminate food insecurity and ensure every person has access to food!

Read more about their efforts here.

It's that time of year!

Toys for Tots has provided free toys to thousands of children in Howard County. This year, I'm reminded of our family members, friends, and neighbors who may be struggling from the effect of the last year. I encourage residents, who are able and willing, to please donate a toy to help a local child in need for our 6th annual Howard County Toys for Tots Distribution.

Unwrapped gifts can be dropped off at any of our Toys for Tots box locations as listed below. Together, we will create a brighter, merrier holiday for our children and families in need.

There’s a new pizza place in our cOMmunity!

I was thrilled to join the Oakland Mills Village Board President Jonathan Edelson and Village Manager Sandy Cederbaum to welcome NYC Pizza to the Oakland Mills Village Center.

Today and every day, let’s show support for our new or old, but always incredible local businesses!

I was so excited to welcome Howard International Grocer to the Long Reach Village Center. Thank you for investing in Long Reach and providing a new option in fresh and diverse ethnic foods to this community.

They currently serve frozen meat and fish, fresh vegetables, fresh fruit, milk, eggs, snacks, and more. I wish them many years of success!

Howard County is so grateful to have an incredible and diverse culinary scene. This Small Business Saturday, I was pleased to welcome Mochi Mochi Donuts to The Common Kitchen in Clarksville Commons. Owner, Jennie Kwon, is an incredible entrepreneur and I’m so excited for her new venture with this donut shop.

I wish them many years of success, and encourage residents to support local!

It was a wonderful night to join Boy Scouts Pack 432, Den 6 to explain more about how local government operates and answer their questions. We had an engaging conversation about the role of County Executive, our biggest inspirations, and building a better community for all.

As a former boy scout, I’m always pleased to join our next generation of leaders who I am certain will continue to make the world a better place for all.

It was my pleasure to spend time showcasing Howard County with Speaker Adrienne Jones and members of our State Delegation – Delegates Delegate Jessica Feldmark, Delegate Eric Ebersole, and Delegate Terri Hill. We visited Merriweather Post Pavilion, Millie Bailey Park and the site of our future Veteran’s Monument in Downtown Columbia. 

In addition to touring local businesses and schools, Speaker Jones was able to see the impact State funding has on advancing projects in the county to help grow our economy and improve our quality of life. Over the years, leadership in the General Assembly have remained strong supporters of Howard County and we’re grateful for their consistent partnership.

Howard County is one of the best places to live, work, play, and grow, which is only due to our efforts to keep our community safe and engaged. During the last four years, we have seen declines in most major crime categories, due to the steadfast leadership of Howard County Police Department Chief Lisa Myers and our dedicated officers in the Howard County Police Department.

Since 2017, most major crimes are trending down, including reductions in burglaries, street & commercial robberies, aggravated assaults, thefts from vehicles, and vehicle thefts.

Open Enrollment for Medicare’s 2022 health and prescription drug plans is now open, running through next Tuesday, December 7^th. During this time, Medicare beneficiaries are able to add, drop or switch their plans. Residents who are in need of assistance with reviewing their Medicare Prescription Drug coverage options are encouraged to contact our Department of Community Resources and Services’ (DCRS) State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) team. To schedule a remote counseling appointment by phone with a certified SHIP counselor, call 410-313-7392 (voice/relay) today. 

Coordinated by the Caregiver Action Network, the theme of this year’s National Family Caregivers Month is “#CaregiverAnd.” This year’s theme encourages family caregivers to celebrate all the roles and responsibilities which make their lives complete. Caring for others, while juggling the demands of family, home and work life can be overwhelming, that's why it's oh so important for caregivers to incorporate components of self-care into their daily routines to prevent burnout and depression.

As part of National Family Caregivers Month, DCRS’s Office on Aging & Independence’s (OAI) Caregiver Support Program will present a virtual webinar for caregivers, “Explaining the Process: How OAI Supports Our Caregivers, Our Heroes,” on Tuesday, November 30^th from 10 a.m. to noon. Participants will learn more about caregiver support options offered through OAI's Home and Community-Based Services, including: Caregiver Support Program; Maryland Access Point; Community Living Program; Senior Care; Medicaid Supports Planning Unit; and Assisted Living and Nursing Home Placements. To register for this FREE event, visit https://oaicaregiverwebinar.eventbrite.com.

For more questions and/or more information, please contact DCRS’s OAI Caregiver Support Program Manager Kathy Wehr at 410-313-5955 (voice/relay) or email kwehr@howardcountymd.gov.

DCRS’ Office on Aging and Independence (OAI) is a proud sponsor of the Beacon Virtual 50+EXPO, an online event which features an interactive website with information and resources geared to older adults. Now through January 31^st, visitors can access content on demand 24 hours a day from https://beacon50expo.com/. Log on anytime to visit more than 100 exhibitors and sponsors, including OAI's Bronze-level sponsors, Lorien Health and Maryland Vascular Specialists; engage with speakers; attend online classes; and enjoy a wide variety of entertainment.

Misplaced your COVID-19 Vaccination Card? Never fear! You can easily request your vaccination records the Maryland Department of Health’s “Maryland MyIR” website. Maryland MyIR is a free website service that allows residents to view and print copies of their official vaccination records directly from ImmuNet, Maryland's immunization information system. ImmuNet is used by healthcare providers to securely maintain vaccination records for Maryland residents of all ages.

If you are in need of rent relief and utility assistance, the County has received an additional $7.7 million in grant funding from the U.S. Treasury’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP). Assistance is available for Howard County residents experiencing a loss of income, reduction in earnings, medical illness or had to care for family due to COVID-19. The funding can be used to pay past due rent and utility expenses for up to 18 months. Residents that have received assistance previously are eligible to apply for additional assistance from this funding up to a total of 18 months assistance. Our Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is encouraging all residents with COVID-related household income losses to contact one of the non-profit providers as soon as possible to bring rent and utility accounts current and avoid eviction. For details on how to apply, visit DHCD’s "COVID-19 Housing Information" website.

This latest funding is in addition to the previous $9.7 million in grants from the ERAP I announced back in March, which as of October 1^st, has assisted 719 households in need.

For homeowners, while this additional funding only supports rental and utility assistance, last month I announced $2 million in American Rescue Plan funding to assist struggling homeowners and prevent foreclosures in Howard County. Homeowners that have fallen behind on their mortgage payments are also encouraged to visit DHCD’s "COVID-19 Housing Information" website for details and an application.

The Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Holiday Commission is seeking Howard County student performers to participate in its annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Celebration on Sunday, January 16, 2022. The Commission is looking for actors, dancers, singers, poets, MCs and more. If you are a county elementary through high school student and would like to participate in the Commission’s upcoming MLK celebration, I encourage you to submit a three-minute video to mlk@howardcountymd.gov, along with your signed application form (available on the Commission’s website), by no later than 5:00 p.m., Monday, December 6^th.

I invite you to join our Office of Human Rights and Equity’s (OHRE) and the County’s Department of Recreation & Parks on Tuesday, December 28^th at 6:00 p.m. at the Owen Brown Interfaith Center in Columbia, for a Kwanzaa Celebration. With inspirational speeches and musical performances, we will explore the creativity, self-determination and faith of Black people during this annual holiday celebration. If joining us in person, we ask that your please register as seating is limited; however, if you will be joining us virtually, you can watch the program live on OHRE’s Facebook page.

To learn about DPW projects currently underway, visit https://bit.ly/2V6K5B6. Searchable by project category and street name, from this site you’ll find additional project details, including news releases about the project. You can also contact DPW’s Customer Service Office at 410-313-3440 or email publicworks@howardcountymd.gov for further assistance.

If you have questions or are interested in finding out about a State road (numbered roadway) project in your area, visit the Maryland State Highway Administration’s (SHA) “Project Portal” website.

Families come join Recreation & Parks’ for its first-ever Reindeer Games on Friday, December 10th from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Roger Carter Community Center. Geared towards children six to 11 years old, come play games, dance, create a craft, drink hot chocolate and maybe even win a prize during this enchanting evening. While the event is FREE, preregistration is required to participate. Attendees are also encouraged to bring a canned food to donate to the local food bank.

This holiday season, I invite you to stop by our Baltimore and Ohio Ellicott City Station Museum and Gary J. Arthur Community Center for this year’s train garden spectacular displays!

The train garden at the Baltimore and Ohio Ellicott City Station Museum will feature train models set up throughout the museum, including in the museum’s year-round exhibit in the Freight House. This free event is open to all ages from November 26^th through January 2^nd, during museum hours.

After visiting the Baltimore and Ohio Ellicott City Station Museum’s train garden, I invite you to stop by the train display at our Gary J. Arthur Community Center, brought to us by train enthusiast Dennis Moore. This year’s layout features four, continuously operating trains through an 8 x 8 foot scenic garden. Visitors of all ages can enjoy an interactive exhibit of accessories and sounds. This train garden is also free to all and open during the center’s operating hours from November 29^th through January 7^th.

Our Department of Recreation & Parks is seeking your input Howard County for its Land Preservation, Parks and Recreation Plan (LPPRP), a comprehensive plan produced every five years that guides the department on key issues, trends and plans for managing and enhancing the systems of preserved public lands, parks and recreation facilities. To learn more about the LPPRP or to provide your input, click HERE.

As part of the development of its Transportation Demand Management Plan for Downtown Columbia (DTC), the Office of Transportation is working with the Downtown Columbia Partnership to survey those who live, work and play in DTC. The purpose of the survey to develop a better understanding of the transportation needs and assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on travel patterns of those who live, work and play and this area. Your responses will help Transportation design new transportation options and strategies to address current needs as well as into the post-COVID period. To take the survey, click HERE.

To learn more about this proposed project and to provide your feedback, I invite you to join our Office of Transportation for a virtual public meeting next Tuesday, December 7^th from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. To register for the meeting, click HERE.

Following the December 7^th meeting, Transportation will also accepting feedback via a brief survey through December 21^st that will be available on the project website.

If you have further questions about this proposed project, require reasonable accommodations to participate in this event or need the contents of this flyer in an alternate format, please contact our Office of Transportation at 410-313-4312 or email transportation@howardcountymd.gov at least five business days before the event.